An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Lived Experience of Social Workers as Psychotherapists in Greece

Abstract

At present, Greece lacks a statutory framework regulating psychotherapy, creating some uncertainty regarding which professional groups may legitimately provide psychotherapeutic services. The present study explored how Greek social workers trained in psychotherapy experience and interpret their professional identity within this contested context. The study employed a qualitative design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). It consists of six licensed social workers (n=6) -of whom three are women and three are men, aged between 38 and 60 years old- with formal/accredited psychotherapy training and at least five years of clinical experience. All of them participated in semi-structured online interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, anonymised, and analysed idiographically. The analysis showed three interrelated themes: (i) the perceived obviousness of psychotherapy as a legitimate specialisation within social work; (ii) feelings associated with the possible exclusion of social workers from authorised psychotherapeutic practice, including devaluation and uncertainty about the future; and (iii) the perceived deprivation of professional rights. The participants described psychotherapy as a key aspect to their professional identity and viewed potential exclusion/deletion as a threat to recognition, livelihood, continuity, and collective belonging. The findings of the study highly indicate that the present regulatory uncertainty has consequences extending beyond professional boundaries, as it affects participants’ sense of meaning, legitimacy, agency, and existential security. In conclusion, psychotherapy constitutes a historically and personally meaningful component of participants’ social identity, while regulatory decisions should therefore consider both competency standards and the psychosocial impact on affected professionals.